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Brabus, converting Mercedes-Benz cars to a higher level

07.03.2019

Whenever Mercedes-AMG launches a new model, the people of Brabus pay close attention. This was definitely the case when the brand from Stuttgart launched an all-new version of the G-class. A year after its launch, Brabus is proud to announce it has tinkered with it and made it faster—a lot faster. Brabus’ Sven Gramm tells us all about Brabus and their new G800 Widestar.

What is the process of converting a regular Mercedes into a Brabus?

There are various processes possible. We keep a very close eye on what Mercedes-Benz is doing and what the market is doing. When AMG launched the new G63, we knew it would be an important product for us because the previous version was very successful. Today we launched the Brabus G800 Widestar, our evolution of the G63. In the first stage, we developed a 100-horsepower upgrade, bringing the cars’ powers up to 700 horsepower, but for us that wasn’t enough. So, we took the car back to the shop and ended up with an engine that puts out 800 horsepower.

What parts do you include in an upgrade?

To upgrade any AMG vehicle, we add our own developed turbochargers and our own ECU. These parts have been developed in our workshop and we’ve been testing them for countless hours on test benches and rolling roads and with prototype cars on the track. To give the car that characteristic Brabus sound, we also upgrade the exhaust system.

If you add all that power to a car, what do you do to control it and ensure it will stop?

It really depends on the car. With the G800, we didn’t have to do anything to the brakes and drivetrain, as they are really strong on the standard car. That is why Mercedes-AMG is a great company to work with, because they have a very robust product to start with. If necessary, we’ll upgrade the gearbox and the brakes as well. We’ve developed special brake kits with Brembo in the past.

What makes Brabus so different to any other ‘tuning’ company?

First off, when a car exits our shop, it’s no longer a Mercedes-Benz. It officially becomes a Brabus. We create a completely new product from the body and aerobat which are made from the highest grade carbon fibre to bespoke Brabus wheels (23 inches for the Widestar), and if the client desires, they can also order the Brabus leather interior. Our clients prefer exclusive high-end products rather than a tuned Mercedes-Benz.

What value does Motul oil bring to Brabus?

We build high-performance engines and they need a high-performance product that functions properly. But most important, the produce needs to function every day and everywhere. The biggest difference between a Brabus and any other supercar is the fact that a supercar is probably only used once a week during the weekend, mostly in summer. Our customers drive their cars every day and they like to drive it fast. On top of that, we sell our products in Moscow but also in Dubai, so the engine has to function at peak performance in -50°C to +50°C. Every Brabus comes with a three-year warranty, and to make such a promise you need to be confident in all of the products that are used during the process.